Unusual request.

[markkiteboy]

I am a competetive parakart racer and i would like to learn more about using the wind and how to sail a particular coarse to my best advantage.
I know its not boat related but i thought as sailors have been utilising the wind for many years you may be able to teach us new guys a thing or two.
Any help greatfully recieved.
Thanks...Mark.

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[graham]

i dont know if the two sports are comparable really but one principle that should apply is that it is usually faster to go across the wind at an angle rather than having the wind coming from directly behind you.

Reason is that if you are doing 10mph with 20mph wind in the same direction the APPARENT WIND ie the wind passing over the boat (or cart) is reduced by the speed you are travelling.

Whereas if you are crossing the wind the wind speed will not effectively reduce as you speed up.

Probably a crap explanation , an example is that racing yachts will zig zag downwind doing more miles but at much greater speed.

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[gandy]

Do you guys sail upwind, tacking, like a boat would? That's one of the important parts of a race, where tacking to suit wind shifts, and knowing the favoured side of the course, pay off. That's where I so often find boats magically cross my bow after I thought they were well behind.

If so, one of the dinghy racing type books may explain the theory. You could try your library.

Otherwise, I guess, ask questions here.

Tony S

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[markkiteboy]

Thanks for replying graham..
We work on the same principal.Across the wind is a lot faster than directly with it as you say.
We have coarses that are often square in shape so we need to ba able to sail down and upwind effectivly to compete.


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[markkiteboy]

Dinghy racing books may be a good idea..thanks.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by markkiteboy on 19/10/2004 20:25 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[RocquaineBay]

Crap explainaton or not, I've just learned something today I never knew. Thankyou!

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[kingfisher]

- Sail closer to te wind in gusts, and bear off as the wind falls
- Velocity made good. Find out about it: the shortest route is not always the fastest
- get a handheld GPS, turn it on, put it in your pocket, and download the track data to your computer. Analyse
- Adapt your sail to the wind: different kites for different winds. A lot of sailing speed depends on sail shape. Can you change the shape of a kite? Basically: the more bag, the more power, the flatter the sail, the higher the speed. Like car gears: 1st (bag) gives lot of acceleration, but less top speed.
So in constant winds: a flat kite, in fluky winds a baggy kite.
- the higher the kite, the more stable the winds.
- spotting gusts on the water is easy: look for rimples. Finding gusts in the sand? Try to anticipate tem to apply trick #1
- slight winds: do not rock the boat, keep as still as possible

<hr width=100% size=1>Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[MrG]

Am I missing something here?
Where does the saddle go on a parakete?

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue>Regards Mark

 

[Colin_S]

LOL - I read it as parakeet racing too first time round.

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